Thankful Thursday

Yeah, that was actually yesterday.  But it was a bit late when I wrote this, so I'm posting it today.  I am thankful for some of my neighbors.  This is more of a starter-home and bedroom neighborhood for commuters and about half of them are renters who come and go every couple years, so it isn't real tight, but there seem to be several small individual groups of neighbors who are mutually helpful.  It seems to be completely by proximity.

I am the longest current resident on the street (1986 to present).  Not that it means I'm most-connected (I'm not) but it does mean I've seen everyone else move in and leave eventually.  Some obvious helpful friendships have developed and ended as people moved on.  But I've seen new ones form, too.

And I am part of 4 at my end of the street.  It changes slightly as people come and go, but I have been lucky to generally have good ones.  The Couple across the street are the center of the group right now.  The Wife works in "conflict resolution" online from home.  The Husband is an all-around mechanically/constructive "good guy".

She is always there with a hug, some words of peace, and a friendly outlook.  The Husband will help anyone do anything.  Just some examples...

1.  If a neighbor is going on vacation, they park one of their cars in the driveway to make it look like someone is at home.  Mow the lawn, and pick up the mail and newspapers.

2.  They are taking care of the Husband's grandchildren.  And have the neighbor's children over for playtime with them (lots of driveway chalk-drawing and outdoor games).

3.  The Wife helped me immensely when I fell off the extension ladder in Jan 2021.  Did some grocery-shopping, cleaned the cat litter boxes when I couldn't get down the stairs, and drove me to the doctor appointments until I could drive again.  Did some house-cleaning too (I couldn't stop her).

4.  The Husband helped me get my lawn mower running again (it was too long with old gas).  

5.  Invited me to their Friday Night Poker Party.  I'm not great at social events, and they played versions of poker I not only didn't know of, but couldn't even understand when they were explained.  I posted about that once, but mostly, there  were "shifting wild cards" weird down-card layouts and I just couldn't figure it out.

Games were called Bow-tie, 2&22, etc.  I'm old-fashioned.  I know 5 card draw, 7-stud, Hi/Low (aka Chicago, I think) and that's about it.  

Their whole basement is a rec room.  Aside from the poker table, they had a pool table, a dart board, a video arcade game (sadly broken at the time), and a massive snack table.

But, one of their friends had brought his 15-year old son.  He was bored to death!  So, since I was utterly confounded at the poker table. I started hitting some pool balls around.  He was interested by that.  Not that he knew how to play, but was curious.  And some attention and distraction was probably appreciated.

I tried to show him how to use a pool cue.  He had certainly never used one before.  But I had an advantage.  My paternal grandfather had a table in the basement, and I was fascinated by the realization that it was "mostly) geometry angles, so I played a lot there.  I'm not saying I'm good at it, but I understand various ways to hold a cue and how to aim at a round object.

So I showed him how to shoot.  He was wretched at it, but willing to learn.  He got better.  Not by a whole lot, but at least he didn't rip up the felt, LOL!  The first time he sank a ball, he was thrilled.  And so was I!

The Wife noticed, and left the Poker game to challenge me (friendly) to "solid or stripes" (with the teen as my cheering section).  I know Rotation, Eight-Ball, and Nine-Ball, but never heard of that one.  But it was utterly simple.  You choose one and the 1st person to pocket all "yours" wins.  

"WE" won.  The Wife and I by entertaining the teen, me because I sank all my solids while she had several left, and the teen because I gave him the last shot.  It was one of those positions he couldn't miss.    The last solid was an inch away from the pocket, the cue ball was directly next to it.  I helped him position the cue and said "just tap it".  He did and it went in.  YEAH!

The teen and I played darts after that.  Neither one of us were any good at it and we didn't know the actual rules.  So after a bit, I just took one of his darts, placed it in the bullseye and declared he won.  He liked that.  

6.  I was a Boy Scout "helpful, courteous and kind" etc.  So I help people and neighbors.  My original neighbor was an elderly lady.  When it snowed, I got up early and shoveled her driveway (as quietly as possible).  But she caught me at it one day and brought me a quart of her best soup later that day.  

BTW, 2 strange stories about her.  One time one of my cats (Tinkerbelle) went missing.  When the neighbor returned after vacation for a week, she opened her toolshed and Tinkerbelle came running out of it.  I was on my deck on the time, so I saw it happen.  It wasn't the neighbor at fault, and she realized what had happened and came over to apologize.  I was just happy to see Tinkerbelle again.

She moved away a few years later.  And we met in a store several years after that.  We talked for a while.

7.  A former policewoman lives on the corner lot.  Sometimes, when she sees several of us outside, she comes by and gives us advice on the latest scams, porch-piracy, and local crimes we should be aware of.  And the rest of us appreciate that.

8.  The newest side-neighbor is trying to be friendly, but there are language issues involved.  My decades-old high school Spanish classes are not up to the task and neither is their English.  But the Husband and I can get by with a little work.  

It is their first house.  I have helped him about lawn maintenance, trees, and shrubs.  He had a tree that was over-hanging my roof removed while I had a tree-removal company removing a dead tree and some unrecoverable shrubs on my property.  And I had the tree company grind down his tree roots that were making mowing my yard like "driving over railroad ties".

We aren't "the best of friends" but at peace.  And I make it a point to talk to both of them when possible.   If they stay for a while, things will improve.

9.  Not all neighbors are perfect.  There is a guy down the street who just loves to ride his motorcycle back and forth along the street early in the morning.  I don't love motorcycle noise.  And before him, there was a side-neighbor who used to drive his cycle to work.  He has the right to that.  But before 6 am, he would run it in his driveway 30 minutes while he washed and tuned it.

I went over one morning and asked if he "had to keep it running all the time".  He was surprised I didn't like the sound of  motorcycle!  Well, for me, 6 am is "the middle of the night".  He stopped for a week (just doing it in the garage) but his wife stopped him from that so he had to do it outside again.  Fortunately, they moved.  

10.  So I like my neighbors.  And we generally help each other.  

Sorry to go on for so long...

 

Grocery Store Pickup Results

 Well, the pickup process was actually a bit confusing.  I had set a pickup time for 2PM and I expected that meant I should just arrive there at that time.  No, not quite!  I received an email the evening before that said my order would be ready between 2-7 PM.  What?!

I would receive a "notification" when it was ready.  But they didn't tell me what form the notification would be in.  They had my phone number and email address, and I had unchecked mobile phone text.  Searching their site and even talking to a chatbot didn't reveal anything.  

So in the morning, I called an 877 number to a centralized location.  The agent there couldn't answer my question, but did give me a number to the store customer service desk (CSD).  Amazingly, the CSD couldn't tell me how I would be "notified" either, lacking a smartphone app.

However, some good news!  No sooner had I hung up with the CSD than I got a call from a store shopper saying my order was ready to be picked up.  She even said the shallots were rather soft, did I still want them". (no).  I explained I had some mobility problems but would be there in 15 minutes.  So she said she would keep watch for my arrival (green Subaru SUV).

I got there and got out of the car and someone came out with a cart of bags.  Wrong person, LOL!  But she went back inside and found the right person.  That person came right out, loaded the bags into my car.  Even refused a tip.  She said she was paid to do pickup orders.

It was a wonderful experience and I will do it again.

There were 2 minor problems.  I had clicked on "no substitutions" for every item.  I ordered minced horseradish and got "creamy".  OK, I can live with that.  The other seems to have been my fault.  I wanted Breyer's chocolate chip ice cream and got regular chocolate.  I don't like regular chocolate.  But after reviewing my original order, it appears I clicked the wrong one.

Well, my good neighbors across the street are taking care of 3 grandchildren.  I bet some of them like regular chocolate ice cream.  It will be a gift; they have certainly done more than enough for me!

I haven't tested it yet, but I bet the items I ordered this time will be close to the top the next time.  The Safeway digital loyalty card section notices my routine preferences, so I expect the online ordering one will also do that.

Dead Trees, Part 2

So it is yesterday evening  and I'm looking at this 12' tree across my driveway.  I can't get the car out directly.  The tree still has intact 3" roots in the ground.  But if I can cut it it 3 places it is probably small enough parts to at least drag off the driveway.  I tried the electric chain saw.  It was like using a butter knife.  

I forgot to take a picture...

So I went back inside see if I had a new blade.  I did, but I just didn't feel up to all the replacement adjustment and I didn't really have to drive anywhere the next day.  So I decided to tackle that in the morning.

I considered using the car to haul it off the driveway.  It would have meant backing out and then pushing between the tree and a shrub on a soggy lawn, but I can repair lawn damage, so I was getting my strongest rope and putting the trailer hitch on the Forester.  

As I was collecting that stuff, I noticed my basement cell phone was blinking.  That means a VM.  Good neighbors Deb and John asked if I was OK.  Which, since I wasn't under the tree, meant "did I need some help".  Yes I did!

So I called.  Basically, to say I could probably get the tree cut apart when I replaced the chain saw blade, but if they could help me swivel the tree off the driveway "I sure would appreciate it".

I should explain that I'm not very good at asking for help.  I'm helpful when asked, but I've lived alone so long, I expect to solve problems on my own.  That's not a good thing, but it is a habit of many years just doing everything myself having little other choice.  Contractors when necessary and I hate it.  But I'm not 30 anymore.  Or 50.  Age is catching up with me.  

Deb and John are very interesting people.  Deb works in conflict management online and is strongly dedicated to helping others.  When we talk as neighbors, she will not leave without a hug.  John seems to be an original "Jack Of All Trades".  He knows enough about "everything" and he has "stuff.  And he matches up with Deb perfectly.  He seems to like being the "ultimate helpful guy".  He has stuff that amazes me.

How did I get so lucky to have them for neighbors?

So, I called them asking for just enough help to drag the tree off the driveway.  Well, that wasn't enough for them!  They looked at the fallen tree, decided the roots had to be cut but he had a good chain saw to cut the trunk off near the ground.  I wasn't sure how much good that was going to do.  But he went back to the house and returned with a chain saw and his ATV.

I knew he had one, but I didn't realize how RUGGED those things were up close.  He cut the trunk from the stump and said he would haul the tree into the woods next to the house.  The tree was heavy, but he said it wouldn't be a problem.  He was right.

After he chain-sawed the trunk loose he brought out a 1" thick rope.  I need one that strong...  Maybe even a chain.  In fact, I want a couple of heavy-duty pulleys, but that is a diffent subject.

I'm not inept.  I was a Boy Scout for 6 years and camped out for 6 weeks once.  I know knots, can cook over an open fire, and I build a dining table in camp out of saplings cuttings once, lashed with vines.

His rope had a loop at one end and was melted (for unfraying) at the other (I do the same).  I asked John if he wanted the loop the ATV end or round the trunk.  And whether he wanted a timberline knot on the trunk.  He said the loop around the trunk was fine.  He tied a perfect double clove knot to his ATV.

I did mention that the sharp edge of that was cutting the rope  and that the round trailer hitch would be easier on it.  He changed it.

And AWAY went the tree!   I don't know how you can drag a 10" wide tree through heavy woods, but HE did, LOL!  And then he went and helped a different neighbor with a smaller one.  

Saved me at least 4 hours of work.  I HAVE to make a banana cake for them...  And they are starting their first garden (in deer territory) and want to protect it.  I know THAT stuff.  So maybe I can repay their help in that way.

Comments About That Unusually Helpful AOL Tech Person

Comments came up about how unusually helpful the AOL tech was and that she didn't want company recognition...

I had dealt with at least 6 AOL techs over the last couple months.  I'm not saying they weren't helpful to the degree required for their jobs.  But if there was something I couldn't do or understand, they lost patience quickly.  So they didn't go out of their way to help.  They were following AOL rules.  One is paying $5 per month per email account that they could verify.  Another was that I had to know the previous passwords which were on the dead Mac Mini.  They pretty much just tried to get me off the phone to get to the next customer.

I should mention that the previous ones might have had trouble because I didn't have a 2nd phone for sending a code to, or call waiting set up.  I did contact my service provider (Verizon) to set that up.  It just took a button click on My Account and then discovering there was a button on my phone labeled "call waiting'!  Well, you don't see what you aren't looking for...

When I talked to this latest one, it was obvious she was not so concerned with AOL rules.  She didn't ask if I had an paid account for each email address.  She asked if I had passwords, but when I said I didn't (and explained why) she said "then we will set of new ones".  She was patient after asking questions that I didn't fully understand.  She answered some questions she didn't have to bother answering.

An example was "what is the difference between POP and IMAP accounts"?  She explained that POP was easier for AOL but did not allow recovery of email files while IMAP took a little more work, but allowed recoveries.  When I mentioned that my working email account was POP, she said "well let's fix that first".   And she did.

She was on "remote control" over my computer by then.  She explained what she was doing at each step.  After changing my primary email account from POP to IMAP we went to the marksmews email.  She didn't ask if I had a monthly payment account, she just went about setting it up as IMAP.  To do so, she generated a master password on her end and told me to enter a password of my own afterwards to change it.  And she specifically said at all such times that she had turned off her vieing so that she couldn't see my new password. 

OK, that might have been untrue, but I was trusting her.  I think she was being honest.  Besides, I'm sure anyone at AOL could see my passwords if they wanted to.

So she had my cavebear email changed to the safer IMAP format and the marksmews email set up the same way.  She asked if I needed further assistance.  I mentioned a 3rd email accounnt.  When she asked why have 3 accounts, I explained it was one general email and one each for 2 blogs (cats and gardening) just to keep them separate.

She laughed and said she admired organized computer files.  I didn't mention that I keep so many folders of various kinds that I used to drive the computer guys nuts at work when they had to solve a problem.  They make sense to me and that is all that matters.

So she went about setting up my yardenman email (gardening) as Imap and went through the process of creating a temporary new master password at her end *sending a temporay code to my call-waiting) and then going off-viewing while I created a new one for myself.

All in all, it was a wonderful experience.  I have never in my life had a better experience with a computer company tech.  So why did she decline to let me thank AOL on her behalf? 

Well, during our hour-long chat, I mentioned that she was unusually helpful and did she really enjoy doing this?  OK, I would expect any company agent to express a positive attitude whether they actually enjoyed their job or not.

She seemed actually happy to help people get problems fixed and to be the one to fix them.  So parts of being happy at what you do are hard to disguise.  She seemed to REALLY enjoy what she was doing.

I get that.  When I visit my favorite gardening forum, the first thread I go to is the "Questions" thread.  Some guys love cars, some like sports, I was gardening as a preteen.  So it has been 60 years...  I love to answer gardening questions!  I get positive pleasure from helping other people garden well. 

So, apparently, the AOL tech rep I spoke to feels the same way about computers.  I think that she knows that she is breaking AOL rules by helping people without asking for payment programs or pushing add-on "pay-for" services.  It just gives her pleasure to help others with her expertise.

An aside...  The internet has been the greatest opportunity for people to share their individual knowledge since the invention of the mass-printed book.  Before the printing press (invented in symbol-driven China, but much more applicable to European letter systems), scholars had to write individual letters to the few others they knew about things they had discovered (expensive, slow, and uncertain of delivery).  After the printing press, scholars could write whole books available to all who could buy one (it still wasn't cheap).  But 1,000 books reached more people than a dozen short letters.

With the internet, we can reach a Billion people if they are interested and nearly for free.  So sending answers to questions (whether computer, gardening, cooking, etc) into the internet is basically "books cubed".

The AOL tech woman is one of those.